Limerick boy is on course to shoulder top weight of 11st 12lb in the Tote Scoop6 Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton on Saturday.

The Venetia Williams-trained six-year-old was pulled up at Newbury last time but is reported none the worse for the run and has recently been pleasing connections in his homework.

Graham Skeats, racing manager to the entire's owners Favourites Racing, said: "At the moment we plan to run Limerick Boy.

"Venetia worked him on Saturday and she was very happy with him so we decided to make the entry and go and that is what the plan is.

"The more rain the better for him.

"I'm hoping Sam Thomas can ride him but he may be claimed for another of Venetia's at Wincanton. We won't know until later on in the week but we would like him to ride. He's excellent value for his 5lb."

Skeats remains mystified over the running of Limerick Boy at Newbury.

He said: "We did exhaustive tests and nothing of significance came to light.

"The horse seems in good shape now - no problem. Every horse is entitled to a poor run and hopefully that was it.

"We are delighted with the way he looks.

"He didn't peak until a week before Cheltenham last year so he maybe a spring horse."

Greenhope, who returned from a 10-month break to win over course and distance at the Christmas meeting, was the best-backed horse for the race and is now the sponsors' 4-1 favourite from 6-1.

BEEF OR SALMON has recovered from a slight setback and is on course for the Tote Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Michael Hourigan's stable star was found to be suffering from a bug, which resulted in a below-par effort when a well-beaten third behind Best Mate in the Ericsson Chase at Leopardstown on December 28.

Mucus was discovered in the gelding's lungs when he was scoped on returning to Hourigan's Patrickswell stables after the Ericsson and blood tests were taken.

"His blood tests were perfect," the trainer said. "He's grand again now and he's back in work.

"He's all right again and that is the main thing."

Hourigan has no immediate plans for Beef Or Salmon but the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup - a race he won last year - at Leopardstown on February 8 could be a possibility.

Hourigan added: "We'll wait for a fortnight before deciding what we'll do. The Pillar at Cheltenham (January 24) is out. We'll play it by ear and see what happens."

Beef Or Salmon is a 6-1 chance - without Best Mate - with Coral for the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

Explaining the move to bet without the 4-6 favourite, Coral spokesman Simon Clare said: "We had been desperately trying to breathe life into the ante-post Gold Cup market but Kingscliff's defeat on Saturday was the final nail in the coffin.

"Betting on the Gold Cup has all but dried up and punters have now cried enough."

Keen Leader is Coral's favourite to win the Cheltenham Gold Cup without Best Mate at 4-1, with Sir Rembrandt next best at 5-1. Therealbandit who has just two runs over fences to his name is only a 7-1 chance to win or finish second to Best Mate.

RYALUX, a leading contender for the Martell Cognac Grand National, will miss the rest of the season due to a tendon problem.

Andy Crook's 11-year-old was found to have heat in his near-fore and a subsequent scan revealed the problem.

The Middleham-based trainer said: "The scan showed that Ryalux has a slight touch of tendonitis and a blood clot for which he is undergoing a course of injections in the tendon to disperse the clot.

"He didn't actually suffer an injury - at the end of the day it's down to wear and tear."

Ryalux, winner of the Scottish Grand National last season, had his first run since his Ayr triumph in the Tommy Whittle Chase at Haydock last month.

He finished fifth there and connections were campaigning him with the Grand National in mind.

Crook added: Obviously it's a major blow for a small stable like ours, but the main thing is the horse's welfare and hopefully he will be back next season.

"My feelings are with his owner, William Lomas, who has been very ill recently and whose dream was to have a Grand National runner."